A newly sworn-in Democratic member of the US House of Representatives has ignited a political firestorm by claiming she was pepper-sprayed and manhandled by federal immigration agents during a chaotic raid at an Arizona restaurant.
A Shocking Allegation from a Congresswoman
Adelita Grijalva, who was elected to Congress just seven weeks ago, recounted a shocking encounter she says unfolded on Friday afternoon at the Taco Giro eatery in Tucson. In a video posted on social media platform X, Grijalva stated she was "sprayed in the face by a very aggressive agent" and "pushed around" by several officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
She insisted her behaviour was not confrontational. "I literally was not being aggressive. I was asking for clarification, which is my right as a member of Congress," Grijalva explained. Expressing concern for others present, she added, "I can only imagine, if they're going to treat me like that, how they're treating everybody else."
Federal Pushback and Conflicting Accounts
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, issued a swift and forceful rebuttal, accusing the congresswoman of dishonesty. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded directly on X, sarcastically dismissing the claims. "If her claims were true, this would be a medical marvel," McLaughlin wrote. "But they’re not true. She wasn’t pepper-sprayed."
McLaughlin offered an alternative version of events, alleging Grijalva was merely "in the vicinity of someone who *was* pepper-sprayed as they were obstructing and assaulting law enforcement." She further asserted that two officers were seriously injured by a "mob" the congresswoman had allegedly joined, and sternly noted that "Presenting one’s self as a 'Member of Congress' doesn’t give you the right to obstruct law enforcement."
Scene of Chaos and Community Outrage
The incident occurred during a federal operation that sparked significant local unrest. Authorities, including ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the IRS, executed 16 search warrants across southern Arizona as part of a years-long probe into tax and immigration fraud. Raids took place at multiple Taco Giro locations, including in Tucson and Sierra Vista.
As news of the early morning raid spread, more than 100 protesters descended on the Tucson restaurant. Demonstrators chanted "Go home ICE" and temporarily trapped agents in a gated parking lot. The scene grew increasingly tense, with car horns blaring and people screaming.
In footage from the scene, federal agents can be seen deploying pepper spray and flash bangs to control the crowd. A SWAT team was eventually called to assist agents in leaving the area safely. At least two people were arrested, and multiple individuals were taken into custody in connection with the wider investigation.
Protesters voiced strong opposition to the tactics used. "We support our neighbors and we will stand with our neighbors," said demonstrator Leslie Carlson. Another, Tom Collezo, added, "This is not the way to run this country."
Political Context and Aftermath
The controversy carries deep political undertones. Adelita Grijalva, who replaced her late father Raul Grijalva in a special election, is a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump's immigration policies. On the day of the raid, she described Trump as her community's "biggest problem," accusing his administration of having "no regard for any due process."
Her swearing-in, delayed by 50 days due to a government shutdown, was also mired in partisan dispute. Grijalva and fellow Democrats believe the postponement was intended to block her from signing a petition to release government files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
With starkly contradictory accounts from a sitting US congresswoman and a top DHS official, the incident at Taco Giro has escalated from a local immigration enforcement action into a national dispute over police conduct, political rights, and the heated debate surrounding border security.
